Dr. Jerry Adiel Douglas
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[A loving father and grandfather, Dr. Jerry Adiel Douglas, passed away Saturday, Jan. 22, 2011, at St. John's Mercy Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. He was born June 17, 1943, in Cave-In-Rock, the son of John Adiel "Daddy" and Dora Alene (Garland) Douglas.
Jerry, known as "Hoot" to his childhood friends, attended elementary and high school in Cave-In-Rock where he diligently practiced, and became an excellent basketball player. He graduated from high school in 1961 and went on to Kentucky Wesleyan College on a basketball scholarship, graduating in 1964. On Aug. 22, 1964, he married Mary Nelle Kaegi at the First Christian Church in Cave-In-Rock.
In the fall of 1964, Jerry entered the University of Louisville Dental School, graduating with the class of 1968. He practiced dentistry in Henderson, Ky., Rosiclare, Vienna and Harrisburg before retiring in 2000 to devote more time to his real passion, the scientific development of oral hygiene products. He later lived in Brentwood, Mo., where he was relentlessly working on applications for his revolutionary science, in the areas of healthcare, food processing and agriculture.
Jerry and Mary Nelle were divorced in 1988, but they brought into this world three beautiful daughters, Lynn, Lea, and Liz. He adored and doted on his "three L's" and ended every phone call, "Dad is proud of you." He also held great admiration for his three sons-in-law, Jim, Matt, and Brett and was proud to call them his sons. He later became "Paw" to his six grandsons, Jackson, Evan, Braeden, Will, Gentry, and Ian, who he loved to visit and spoil beyond belief.
More than anything, Jerry loved to be outdoors. He enjoyed working on the farm, boating at Kentucky Lake and Rend Lake, but his most enjoyment came from playing with his grandsons. Jerry was a lifelong member of the Cave-In-Rock Christian Church, where he was baptized as a child. Later in life, he refocused on his religious beliefs, and loved to read and quote the Bible.
He is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Lynn and Jim Torok of Yorkville, Lea and Matt Smucker of Park Ridge and Liz and Brett Fritz of Galveston, Texas; six grandsons, Jackson and Evan Torok, Will and Ian Smucker, and Braeden and Gentry Fritz; two brothers, John (Ramona) Douglas of Westerville, Ohio and Wayne (Roseann) Douglas of Monroe, Ga.; two sisters, LaDonna Conn of Nashville, Tenn. and Marna (John) Heron of Estes Park, Colo.; sister-in-law, Maxine Douglas of Harrisburg; several nieces and nephews, and many dear friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John Adiel "Daddy" Douglas and Dora Alene (Garland) Douglas; two brothers, Billy Garland Douglas and David Royce Douglas; and one sister-in-law, Bobbie Jean (Zinn) Douglas.
Upon request, Jerry was cremated. A memorial service was held Saturday, March 26, 2011, at the Cave-In-Rock Christian Church in Cave-In-Rock. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages gifts in his memory be made to the Chronic Disease Fund or the Cave-In-Rock Masonic Cemetery fund. The family would like to thank everyone who called, sent messages, cards and provided meals during Daddy's illness and death. Our family and friends have been a great support in this time of sorrow. A special thank you to Jim Ellis for being there in our time of need.
My Dad
(c) Disarae G. Kuhn
I know this man
Who is dear to my heart
Suddenly one day
It was torn all apart
This man taught me every thing
That I needed to know
But I never really listened
Until he had to go
He gave me love
And touched my life
Its all over now
He no longer has to fight
He tried to teach me
Right for wrong
The day he left
I wasn't that strong
He is gone now
It is hard to believe
This man is my dad
Who I will never see
But I will see him again
This I know
The day will come
When its time for me to go
So, I'll hold him dear
And close to my heart
Cause the day we meet
I know we'll never be torn apart.
The Family of Dr. Jerry A. Douglas
Lynn, Jim, Jackson and Evan Torok
Lea, Matt, Will and Ian Smucker
Liz, Brett, Braeden and Gentry Fritz